Need to implement total sanitation programme: Chidambaram

Sivaganga (Tamil Nadu): Regretting that people still use open toilets all over the country, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday stressed the need to expedite and intensify implementation of the total sanitation programme to prevent such habits.

Inaugurating a sanitation facility for 15 schools in his parliamentary constituency, he said the UPA government's law that corporate should spend two percent of their profits for social causes had brought funds for 26 toilets in these schools.

Noting that an NGO Sulabh was providing toilet facilities throughout the length and breadth of the country, he said it was shameful that even so many years after Independence, people in many parts of the country still use open toilet.

"A movement has to be started to provide toilet facilities to all," he said.

The toilets in the 15 schools were constructed under the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by the India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd.

Chidambaram also declared open a renovated building of the MP's Office in this town.

He also inaugurated a coconut coir rope cluster unit at Singampurani and addressed its members, coir rope manufacturers and workers association.

The Minister said the unit had been started at a cost of Rs 6.59 crore, with the Centre providing Rs five crore, Tamil Nadu government Rs 66 lakh and workers contributing Rs 93 lakh. The workers would earn between Rs 250 to Rs 600 per day, he said.